Houston Jury Finds Member Of World’s Largest Alleged Internet Music Piracy Group Not Guilty March 24, 2010

Matthew Chow, a member of “Rabid Neurosis” (RNS), a music file-sharing site, was found not guilty last Friday of conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement.

Federal authorities claimed RNS was the world’s most prolific music piracy ring. The alleged victim was The Recording Industry Association of America, (RIAA).

“I am relieved by the jury’s verdict and I am grateful to my attorney for his hard work,” says Chow. Houston attorney Terry W. Yates, who represented Matthew Chow said, “We encountered some extremely complex factual and legal issues in this case. The jury was very attentive during the trial. Their verdict was just.”

According to the federal indictment, from 1999 to 2007 Matthew Chow and four other members of RNS conspired to illegally upload thousands of copyright-protected music files, provided by music industry insiders. These files were allegedly reproduced and distributed hundreds of thousands of times over the Internet.

Federal authorities charged Chow with a single count of conspiracy to commit copyright infringement, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Chow could also have been ordered to pay restitution to the RIAA.

Of the five other members of RNS, Adil Cassim of California was also found not guilty Friday. Four other RNS members pled guilty to copyright infringement and three of those individuals gave testimony for the government in the Houston trial.

Judge Keith Ellison in the Southern Judicial District of Texas, Houston Division, presided over the trial.